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Wow! September was such a crazy month! So much happened so fast that I didn’t even have time to post about it.

Greg and I were married September 7. The wedding was wonderful with balloons and family and laughter!

We took off for our honeymoon the next day and had a wonderful week traveling through Portland, Seattle, and Victoria, BC. In Victoria, when they heard it was our honeymoon, they upgraded our room. We were on the very top floor of the Fairmont Empress Victoria, nestled under the eaves. We had a split level room with a couch and TV and three steps leading up to the king size bed and bathroom with whirlpool tub. It was my first time to stay in a hotel that provided bathrobes! We also had champagne and chocolate covered strawberries. It was a very special experience and one we will always remember.

Totally exhausted at the end of our week, we headed home. Just a few days after we arrived home, my mother took a turn for the worse. She lingered for a week while the family gathered around her, and then she quietly slipped away on October 3. I cannot express how much I will miss her — my mom, my best friend.

So, in September, most of the things I created were intangible — laughter, memories, hugs, and tears…

But here it is October and I’ve begun to lift my head again. The CFIDS has got me down, but not out! And I will continue to create!

So here’s a tutorial on ribbon barrettes. I don’t remember where I learned the technique, it seems I’ve been making them forever…

You start with a spring clip and 1 yard of 1/8″ to 1/4″ ribbon or braid. Use something flat or the spring clip won’t close when you’re finished. The spring clips can be purchased in the hair accessories department of the drug store or in craft stores. Sometimes, even quilting stores carry them for holding binding on a quilt. They also make great hem markers! Buy lots — you’ll use them for everything!

Open the spring clip and place the center of the ribbon between the two sections:

From here, it’s much like lacing a shoe. Take one end of the ribbon, bring it up and over and down through the center of the clip, being careful not to twist the ribbon:

Repeat on the other side:

It helps if you hold one end of the spring clip between thumb and forefinger of your non-dominant hand. That keeps the ribbon from slipping.

Keep alternating sides, weaving the ribbon back and forth until the gap in the spring clip is full. Always do the same number of wraps on each side. When you finish, the loose ends of the ribbon will be under the top of the spring clip, one on each side.

Bring the two ends together and tie a square knot on the top of the clip.

This is what the underside of the clip should look like:

At this point, you can glue on a silk flower, cut the ends of the ribbon short, or leave them long and dangling. If you want to cut them short, add a drop of fray check or glue to the knot before you trim the ribbons.

This same technique can be used with two ribbons, alternating colors. This gives a striped effect. It’s better to use 1/8″ ribbon if you’re using two colors so that you have plenty of room for the stripes to show.